Sunk 5 May 1945 in the Kattegat NW of Helsingör in position 56.39N, 11.48E by ten depth charges from a British B-24 Liberator bomber (RAF Sqdn. 86/G). 3 dead and 49 survivors. (FDS/NHB, June 1985).

Post war information (see more post-war boats):U-534 was raised from the Kattegat, between Denmark and Sweden, in 1993. She was taken to Birkenhead, England in May 1996 and is now part of a small museum run by Merseytravel, the local transport executive.

Loss position

Green marker shows current location of the U-boat, now open as a museum. Orange marker shows German surrender. Map is click-able and zoom-able.

U-534 was first attacked by Liberator E for Edward from 547 Sqdn, which was shot down with the loss of five of the crew of six. Then G for George of 86 Sqdn began a second attack. On the first run none of the depth charges detonated, but one lodged on the casing just aft of the conning tower. Explosions from near misses in the second run dislodged it, and it exploded beneath the hull.

All the crew escaped, but one died through exhaling while ascending to the surface from the sunken boat, and two from exposure in the water, one of whom, the radio operator, was Argentinean. They were rescued by lifeboats from the Anholt lightship approximately one mile away, as were the crew of E Edward.

The captain of G for George, Warrant Officer John Nicol, was awarded the DFC. The bombardier was Flying Officer Neville Baker.

Attacks on this boat and other events

5 May 1945Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Liberator (Sqdn 547/E). The boat was sunk by another aircraft during this attack.

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

Her Salvage in 1993

U-534 was raised from the Kattegat, between Denmark and Sweden, in 1993 and almost ended up in a scrapyard before being taken over by the Warship Preservation Trust. She was taken to England in May 1996 and put on display at the Nautilus Maritime Museum, Birkenhead until 2008. She was then cut into five pieces and moved to the Woodside Ferry Terminal across the river Mersey from Liverpool, and exhibited as part of a small museum by Merseytravel, the local transport executive.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boatThis boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.